Republican challenger Doug Campbell running again for Iowa Senate after Waylon Brown resigns

The losing candidate in last month's Republican primary for a northern Iowa Senate seat has announced he'll seek the party's nomination at a special convention, now that the seat is vacant.

Doug Campbell, a retired pharmacist and former Mason City School Board member, wrote on Facebook Monday that "I am honored and humbled to step up" after Sen. Waylon Brown, R-Osage, abruptly announced he would resign from his Senate seat .

Brown, who was first elected to the Senate in 2016, did not provide an explanation for his resignation.

Brown, the majority whip for Senate Republicans and Senate Commerce Committee chair, defeated Campbell in the June primary election, taking 53% of the vote to Campbell's 47%.

More: Republican Waylon Brown resigns from Iowa Senate seat just weeks after winning primary

"Although Waylon Brown's resignation was unexpected, I am honored and humbled to step up as your Republican nominee for Iowa Senate District 30," Campbell wrote in a Facebook post Monday.

Iowa Senate District 30 includes Worth, Mitchell and Cerro Gordo counties and part of Floyd County.

Campbell said he would be "a relentless advocate for our district."

"I will make sure to represent the original intent of the Constitution and listen to you, fight for our Iowan values, and ensure our voices are heard," Campbell said in the Facebook post. "I am committed to working tirelessly for each and every one of you, focusing on the issues that matter most to us all. I will uphold your property rights, ensure our education system is strong and effective, and work to create a brighter future for all of us."

Campbell made opposition to the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines a major issue in his primary campaign. Brown has drawn criticism from the pipelines' opponents for declining to hold hearings in the Commerce Committee on bills to restrict how eminent domain can be used for the projects.

The Republican Party is expected to hold a special nominating convention later this summer to choose a candidate for the seat in the wake of Brown's resignation.

Democrat Rich Lorence is also running for the seat.

"As we move forward, I am more committed than ever to serving North Central Iowa and making our state better for everyone," Lorence said in a statement Monday. "This election is a pivotal moment for our district, and we have the opportunity to bring in new ideas and address the challenges we face to improve our public education, protect our landowner’s rights from big corporations, and ensure Iowan’s freedoms are protected from politicians in Des Moines."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Republican challenger Doug Campbell running again for Iowa Senate after Waylon Brown resigns